Box-magazine for firearms



Feb. 21, 1956 w. B..BUTL.ER ETAL 2,735,206

BOX-MAGAZINE FOR FIREARMS Filed Dec. 6. 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 21, 1956 w. B. BUTLER ETAL BOX-MAGAZINE -F'OR FIREARMS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 iled Dec. 6 1950 2,735,206 Patented Feb. 21, 1956 ice BOX-MAGAZINE FOR FIREARMS Wallace B. Butler, Hamden, and Melvin M. Johnson, In,

New Haven, Conn, assignors to Olin Matllieson Chemical Corporation, a corporation of Virginia Application December 6, 1950, Serial No. 199,430 13 Claims. (Cl. 42--18) The present invention relates in general to an improved magazine for firearms and more particularly to the type of magazines commonly known as box-magazines.

An object of the invention is to provide a superior boxmagazine of the single-column cartridge-feed type.

A further object of the invention is to provide a boxmagazine of the single-column cartridge-feed type of simple, durable and economical construction.

Atstill further object of the invention is to provide a superior box-magazine of the single-column-feed type for use in firearms adapted to accommodate a doublecolumn-feed type of box-magazine.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a superior box-magazine which is so constructed that as each successive cartridge is fed from the magazine into chambering position, the cartridge will be caused to move into positive engagement with the extractor of the bolt.

Other objects and advantages will appear to those skilled in the art from the following, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, in which certain modes of carrying out the present invention are shown for illustrative purposes:

Fig. 1 is a right-side elevation of a bolt-action firearm of the box-magazine type embodying the superior boxmagazine of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged right-side elevation of the firearm of Fig. 1 partially broken away to show the action in its closed position and the box-magazine mounted in the stock of the firearm;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the firearm on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the box-magazine;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the box-magazine;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged right-side elevation of the firearm of Fig. '1 partly broken away and showing the action open;

Fig. 7 is a transverse section on line 7-7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a detached top plan view of the box-magazine, including a cartridge which has been moved forwardly in the magazine into a position wherein the head of the cartridge is caused to be displaced laterally to the right of the longitudinal axis of the magazine and with the breech-bolt indicated by broken lines;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse section of the box-magazine on line 9-9 of Fig. 8 and including the front elevation of the breech-bolt, the recessed front face of which is in engagement with the head of the cartridge, the latter being partially engaged with the extractor; and

Fig. 10 is similar to Fig. 9 but showing the rim of the cartridge-head moved up into the cartridge-head recess and in complete engagement with the extractor of the breech-bolt.

The box-magazine type of firearm shown herein for the purpose of illustrating the box-magazine of this invention is of the bolt-action type and, in particular, is a highpowered rifle having a box-magazine receiving-aperture in the stock. It will be understood, however, that the invention is applicable to other types of box-magazine firearms.

Referring especially to Figs. 1 and 2, the bolt-action firearm embodies, in the main, a receiver indicated generally at 10 having a barrel 11 threadedly secured to its forward end, the forward end of the receiver being provided with locking-shoulders 12 for coaction with the locking-lugs 13 on the forward end of an upturn-and-pullback breech-bolt 14. The latter is provided with an extractor 15 having an extractor-hook 15a which is spaced forwardly of the front face of the breech-bolt, the front face of which is recessed to form a substantially U-shapcd cartridge-head retaining-flange 16. The breech-bolt is adapted to reciprocate in the central bore 17 of the receiver which has a loading-and-ejection opening 18 in the top wall thereof intermediate its opposite ends. The locking-lugs 13 of the bolt are adapted to slide in guide-grooves of the receiver and to be rotated through a quarter turn when the bolt is in its extreme forward position, as shown in Fig. 2, to coact with-the locking-shoulders 12 of the receiver to lock the bolt in breech-closing position.

The receiver-and-barrel assembly is mounted on a solid stock 19 and secured thereto by assembling-screws 20, the stock being provided with a vertical box-magazine receiving-aperture 21 which extends therethrough from its top side to its bottom side and is substantially in alignment with the loading-and-ejection opening 18 of the receiver, the width of the box-magazine receiving-aperture 21 being, in this instance, wide enough to accommodate the box-magazine described below.

The box-magazine for the firearm is indicated generally at 22 and is adapted to make a close fit in the boxmagazine apetrure 21 of the stock 19 to provide singlecolumn cartridge-feed.

Referring to the drawings, the box-magazine 22 comprises a substantially rectangular sheet-metal body consisting, in the main, of side walls 23 and 24, end walls 25-25 and a bottom plate 26. In the present instance, the box-magazine body is formed from a single strip of metal which is blanked out of sheet stock and bent to form the respective sides and end walls of the box body, the lower half of the edge of one end wall 25 being welded or otherwise secured to the corresponding edge of the adjacent side wall to form a unitary structure which, in turn, is welded around its bottom edge to the upper surface of the bottom plate 26, in the manner shown especially well in Fig. 3. In this connection, it will be noted that the bottom plate 26 has a shallow substantially rectangular recess 27 in its upper surface in which the box body seats; and that the opposite ends 2828 of the bottom plate extend beyond the corresponding end walls of the box body and are provided with apertures through which the assembling-screws 20 of the stock pass for fastening the box-magazine securely in the box-magazine aperture 21 thereof.

Referring again to Fig. 3, it will be seen that the width ofthe lower end of the box-magazine is less than the width of the box-magazine receiving-aperture 21 and that the lower part of each side wall of the box-magazine body slopes upwardly and outwardly, while the upper part of each side wall is bent inwardly with respect to its corresponding lower part. The bends 29-29 at the junctions of the upper and lower parts of the respective side walls cartridges into the top thereof, in the manner characteristic of box-magazinesof the top-loading type. To perparts of the side walls 23 and 24, respectively, of the magazine are provided with substantially vertical slots 30-30 which intersect the upper edges. of theside walls and extend downwardly to the longitudinal bends 29.-2 thereof, each slot being substantially intermediate the opposite ends of its respective side Wall and arranged to divide the upper part thereof into a rear portion and.

a fr ntpqr ion,

The rear portions of the upper parts of the side Walls 23 and 24 are substantially symmetrical with respect to.

vertical axis of he o rmagazine and each isinclined inwardly at an angle such that the transverse distance between the upper flanged edges. 31 and 32 respectively of the upper rear portions of the side walls is slightly less than the, diameter of a cartridge. The upper flanged edges 31 and 32 of the box-magazine thus serve as resilient cartridge hold-down lips for holding the cartridges in the magazine down against the upwardly directed force of the follower-spring hereinafter described. In this connection, the side walls of the magazine may be heattreated or otherwise provided with the required springiness for functioning in the prescribed manner.

Referring again to Fig. 4, it will be seen that the forward edge of the rear portion of the upper part of the right-hand side wall 23 of the magazine is provided with a vertical notch 33 which intersects the rear edge of the corresponding slot 30, whereby the resilient hold.- down lip 31 is made shorter than the resilient hold-down lip 32, as shown especially well in Fig. 5, thus effectively terminating the forward portion of lip 31 slightly rearward of the forward portion of lip 32.

The upper edges 34 and 35 of the forward portions of the side walls 23 and 24, respectively, are preferably cut down so as to increase the lateral spacing of these edges of the magazine so as to allow cartridges to pass upwardly freely therebetween. Thus, cartridges may be elevated by the follower and follower-spring assembly of the magazine into position for chambering by the breechbolt, as hereinafter described.

The follower of the magazine is indicated at- 36 and comprises a strip of relatively stiff sheet metal, the oppo' site longitudinal edges of which are turned under (Fig. 3) in order to stiffen it, the follower having preferably a slight convex curvature in cross section. The turnedunder edges of the follower also include a pair of inwardly projecting spring-retaining lips 37-H-37 with which thefree end of the uppermost leaf 38. of the follower-spring 39 is adapted to, be engaged for detachably securingthe follower thereto. The lowermost leaf of the followersprjng rests on the upper surface of the bottom plate '26 of the magazine. Formed on the forward end of the follower 36 and depending from opposite sides thereof respectively are lips 40--40.'which serve to engage the front end wall of the magazine when the follower is in its uppermost position therein to prevent the follower from being displaced forwardly by the forward movement of the breech-bolt, as hereinafter described.

Letit be assumed that the box-magazine 22 is mounted in the magazine-receiving aperture 21 of the stock and that the magazine has been loaded with. cartridges and the action closed, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. It will be noted that inasmuch as the box-magazine is wider at its widest point than a conventional single-columnfeed type of magazine, the cartridges arrange. themselves in the box-magazine-in a semi-staggered relationship, the lowermost cartridge resting on the depressed 'follower 36-and the uppermost cartridge being urged upwardly bythe force. of the compressed follower-spring 39 between the resilient ho lddpwn lips 31-32 and against theunderside of the breech-bolt, as shown, in Fig. 3. Upon unlocking and moving the breech-bolt-rearwardly to its open position shown in Fig. 6, the uppermost cartridge in the magazine is released and moves upwardly slightly between the resilient hold-down lips 3-1 and 32 of the magazine, in which position it is held by the outwardly flared lips, in the manner shown in Fig. 7 and substantially in axial alignment with the bore of the barrel. In this connection, the resiliency of the aforesaid hold-down lips 31 and 32 is suitably related to the force of the follower-spring 39 so that the resilient hold-down lips will hold the column of cartridges down in the magazine against the force of the follower-spring, and yet permit the uppermost cartridge in the magazine to be elevated sufliciently into the path of movement of the breech-bolt when the latter is in its rearmost position, as to provide positive contact between the front face of the latter and the upwardly projecting head of the cartridge. In addition, theresiliency of the lips is so selected that the cartridges may be, loaded into the magazinefrom the top thereof. Thus, as the breech-bolt moves forwardly from. its rearmost position, the front face of the breech-bolt will engage the uppermost cartridge in the magazine and move, it forwardly between the resilient hold-down lips 31 and 32, the uppermost cartridge moving substantially in axial alignment with the bore of the barrel. As the headof the cartridge arrives opposite the notch 33 in the righthand side wall 23 of the magazine, the corresponding side of the cartridge-head becomes unsupported, as a consequence of which the resilient pressure of the mag? zine follower spring 39 causes the head of the topmost cartridge, using the lip. 32 for a fulcrum, to move latenally and upwardly to the right of thefirearm, in an oblique direction. At this instant the cartridge is in the position shown in Figs. 8 and 9. This movement of the head of the cartridge carries its flange behind the lower corner of the extractor-hook 15a of the breech-bolt, whereby the flanged head of the cartridge is positively engaged by the extractor and coupled thereby to the breech-bolt. Since the linear distance between the left-hand resilient hold-down lip. of the magazine-body and the lower corner of the extractor is less than the diameter of the cartridgehead, the latter is momentarily restrained from moving upwardly out of the magazine. With the cartridge thus coupled to the front face of the breech-bolt, the relatively short right-hand hold-down lip of the magazine lies imme-- diately behind the lower portion of the flanged head of the cartridge and serves momentarily as a stop to prevent inadvertentrearward movement of the breech-bolt until such time as the cartridge has snapped up into its uppermost position on the face of the breech-bolt, as described hereinafter, for chambering and/ or ejection.

Immediately after the cartridge has assumed the position shown in Figs. 8 and 9, further forward movement of the-hreech-bolt carries the head of the cartridge beyond the forward edge of the resilient hold-down lip 32 of the left-hand side Wall of the magazine, whereupon the corresponding side of the cartridge-head is released. The upward force ofathe follower-spring is now the only force acting on the cartridge and. consequently the latter, and in particular its head, is snapped upwardly out of' the magazine into the recess in the front face of the bolt, the movement of the cartridge again being an oblique movement upwardly and laterally, but in this instance toward the left, whereby the flange of the cartridge-head is moved up out of engagement with the right-hand holddown lip and brought into engagement with the opposite side of the Ui-shaped wall 16 of the recess in the, front face of the breech-bolt. Thereafterg the cartridgeisguided' by the extractor 15 and wall 16 substantially vertically upwardly to its uppermost position ontherecessed front face of the breech-bolt, with the flange of the cartridgehead' positively engaged behind the extractor 15.

As thus supported on thefront face of the breech-bolt,

the cartridge is in axial alignment with the bore of the barrel and, hence, as the breech-bolt moves forwardly, the cartridge is chambered in the bore of the barrel. The bolt-operating handle is then swung down to engage the locking-lugs 13 of the bolt with the locking-shoulders 12 of the receiver for locking the bolt in breech-closing position preparatory to firing. While the breech-bolt is in its forward breech-closing position, the next-succeeding cartridge in the box-magazine is moved upwardly therein by the force of the follower-spring to a position between the resilient lips of the magazine, but is held down below the path of movement of the breech-bolt by engagement with the underside thereof.

After firing the cartridge in the barrel, the action is opened by the upswing and pull-back of the bolt-handle, whereupon the fired cartridge is extracted from the barrel by the rearward movement of the breech-bolt and pulled rearwardly opposite the loading-and-ejection opening 18 in the receiver from which the fired cartridge is ejected in the usual manner. At the end of the rearward excursion of the breech-bolt, the next-succeeding cartridge in the magazine is released from engagement with the underside of the breech-bolt and moved upwardly by the force of the follower-spring, so as to extend up part way into the path of the breech-bolt, in which position the cartridge is resiliently held by the hold-down lips of the magazine. The firearm is again ready for loading a new cartridge into the chamber of the barrel.

From the foregoing description, it will be clear that the superior box-magazine of this invention is of relatively simple, inexpensive and durable construction and is of the top-loading type adapted to support a plurality of cartridges in a semi-staggered relationship and to feed the cartridges from the magazine in a single column, the magazine being further characterized by the provision of one relatively short resilient hold-down lip to insure positive engagement of the flanged head of the cartridge with the extractor of the breech-bolt immediately upon release of the cartridge from the magazine. The box-magazine shown is also suitable as a conversion magazine for use in box-magazine type of firearms of the double-columnfeed type to convert such firearms to single-column-feed. Although this feature of the new box-magazine of this invention is highly advantageous, it will be appreciated that the magazine is designed primarily for permanent assembly in box-magazine types of firearms.

The invention may be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the invention, and the present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

, We claim:

1. A box-magazine for firearms comprising: a magazine-body having side walls, end walls and a body-supporting bottom plate, said side walls having laterally opposed resilient cartridge hold-down lips along a portion of the upper edges thereof and a follower and follower-spring assembled in said body arranged to urge cartridges therein up into engagement with the said hold-down lips of said side walls, one of said resilient hold-down lips terminating rearwardly of the other so as to eifect complete release of one side of a cartridge-head prior to the release of the opposite side thereof whereby the cartridge-head is deflected laterally of the longitudinal axis of said magazine as the cartridge is moved forwardly therein.

2. A box-magazine for firearms comprising: a magazine-body having side walls, end walls and a body-supporting bottom plate, said side walls having laterally opposed resilient cartridge hold-down lips along a portion of the upper edges thereof; a follower and followerspring assembled in said body and arranged to urge cartridges therein up into engagement with the said porting bottom plate, said hold-down lips of said side walls; and a notch in the forward edge of one of the said resilient hold-down lips, whereby said hold-down lip is effectively terminated rearwardly of the other lip so as to completely release one side of a cartridge-head prior to the release of the opposite side thereof whereby the cartridge-head is deflected laterally of the longitudinal axis of said magazine as the cartridge is moved forwardly therein.

3. A box-magazine for firearms comprising: a magazine-body having side walls, end walls and a body-supporting bottom plate, said side walls being bowed outwardly to provide said magazine with capacity for supporting a semi-staggered column of cartridges, the upper edges of said bowed sides forming resilient cartridge hold-down lips arranged to effect single-column-feed of the uppermost cartridge along the longitudinal axis of said magazine; a follower and follower-spring assembled in said body and arranged to urge cartridges therein up into engagement with the said hold-down lips of said side walls; and a relief-recess in one of the said cartridge hold-down lips of said magazine, said relief-recess effectively terminating one of said hold-down lips ahead of the other to completely release one side of a cartridgehead prior to the release of the opposite side thereof whereby the cartridge-head is deflected laterally of the longitudinal axis of said magazine as the cartridge is moved forwardly therein.

4. A box-magazine for firearms comprising: a magazine-body having side walls, end walls and a body-supporting bottom plate, said side walls having bends therein extending substantially longitudinally thereof for bowing the respective side walls outwardly to provide said magazine with capacity for supporting a semi-staggered column of cartridges, the said longitudinal bends being arranged to divide the respective side walls into upper and lower portions, the upper edges of the upper portions of said side walls forming resilient cartridge hold-down lips to effect single-column-feed of the uppermost cartridge along the axis of said magazine; a follower and followerspring assembled in said body and arranged to urge cartridges therein up into engagement with the said holddown lips of said side walls; and a relief-recess in one of the said cartridge hold-down lips of said body, said relief-recess effectively terminating said hold-down lip short of the oppoiste lip to release one side of a cartridgehead prior to the release of the opposite side thereof whereby the cartridge-head is deflected laterally of the longitudinal axis of said magazine as the cartridge is moved forwardly therein.

5. A box-magazine for firearms comprising: a magazine-body having side walls, end walls and a body-supporting bottom plate, said side walls having bends therein extending substantially longitudinally thereof for bowing the respective side walls outwardly to provide said magazine with capacity for supporting a semi-staggered column of cartridges, the said longitudinal bends being arranged to divide the respective side walls into upper and lower portions, the upper edges of the upper portions of said side walls being arranged to constitute resilient cartridge hold-down lips to effect single-column-feed of the uppermost cartridge along the longitudinal axis of said magazine; a follower and follower-spring assembled in said body and arranged to urge cartridges therein up into engagement with the said hold-down lips of said side walls; and a notch in the forward edge of one of the said resilient hold-down lips, said notch effectively terminating said hold-down lip rearwardly of the other lip so as to completely release one side of a cartridge-head prior to the release of the opposite side thereof whereby the cartridge-head is deflected laterally of the longitudinal axis of said magazine as the cartridge is moved forwardly therein.

6. .A box-magazine for firearms comprising: a magazine-body having side walls, end walls and a body-supside walls having bends therein extending substantially longitudinally thereof for bowing the respective side walls to provide said magazine with capacity for supporting a semi-staggered column of cartridges, the said longitudinal bends being arranged to divide the respective side walls into upper and lower portions, each of said side walls being provided also with a substantially vertical slot intermediate its front 'and rear ends to divide the said side walls into front and rear parts respectively, the said upper portions of the said rear parts of said side walls being free to move laterally with respect to said end walls to form laterally opposed resilient cartridge hold-down lips arranged to effect single-column-feed of the uppermost cartridge along the longitudinal axis of said magazine; a follower and follower-spring assembled in said body and arranged to urge cartridges therein up into engagement with the said holddown lips of said side walls; the forward edge of one of said resilient hold-down lips being cut back to effect complete release of one side of a cartridge-head prior to the release of the opposite side thereof, whereby the cartridge-head. is deflected laterally of the longitudinal axis of said magazine as the cartridge is moved forwardly therein.

7. A box-magazine for firearms comprising: a magazine-body having side walls, end walls and a body-supporting bottom plate, said side walls having bends therein extending substantially longitudinally thereof for bowing the respective side walls to provide said magazine with capacity for supporting a semi-staggered column of cartridges, the said longitudinal bends being arranged to divide the respective side walls into upper and lower portions, each of said side walls being provided also with a substantially vertical slot intermediate its front and rear ends to divide the said side walls into front and rear parts respectively, the said upper portions of the said rear parts of said side walls being free to move laterally with respect to said end walls to form resilient cartridge holddown lips arranged to effect single-column-feed, the upper edges of the front parts of the said side Walls being cut down to provide clearance for unrestricted upward movement of a cartridge therebetween; a follower and followerspring assembled in said body and arranged to urge cartridges therein up into engagement with the said holddown lips of said side walls; the forward edge of one of said resilient hold-down lips being cut back to form a notch adjacent the vertical slot in the corresponding side wall of said magazine so as to effect complete release of one side of a cartridge-head prior to the release of the opposite side thereof, whereby the cartridge-head is deflected laterally of the longitudinal axis of said magazine as the cartridge is moved forwardly therein.

8. The combination in a box-magazine type of firearm having a receiver, a barrel securedto one end of said receiver, a bolt reciprocably mounted in said receiver and having anextractor-lip adjacent one side of the front face of said bolt, and a stock having a box-magazine receiving-aperture therein, said stock being arranged to support said receiver and barrel assembly; of a box-magazine mounted in the aperture of said stock, said box-magazine having side walls provided with resilient cartridge holddown lips, and a follower and follower-spring assembled in saidbox-magazine arranged to urge cartridges therein up into engagement with the said hold-down lips of the said side walls of said magazine, one of said resilient hold-down lips terminating rearwardly of the other to effect complete release of one side of a cartridge-head prior to the release of the opposite side thereof whereby the cartridge-head is deflected laterally of the longitudinal axis of said magazine into positive engagement with the extractor-lip of said bolt as the cartridge is moved forwardly by the belt for chambering in said barrel.

9. 'lihecombination in a box-magazine type of firearm having a receiver, a barrel secured to one end of said receiver, a boltrcciprocably mounted in said receiver and having an extractor-lipadjacent one side of the front face of said bolt, and a stock having a box-magazine receiv. ing-aperture therein, said stock being arranged to support said receiver and barrel assembly; of a box-magazine mounted in the aperture of said stock, said box-magazine having side walls bowed to provide said magazine with capacity for supporting a semi-staggered column of cartridges, the upper edges of the bowed sides of the magazine being arranged to constitute resilient cartridge holddown lips to effect single-column-feed of the uppermost cartridge along the longitudinal axis of said magazine, a follower and follower-spring assembled in said magazine and arranged to urge cartridges therein up into engagement with the said hold-down lips of said side walls, and a relief-recess in one of the said cartridge hold-down lips of said magazine, said relief-recess effectively terminating said hold-down lip rearwardly of the other to effect complete release of one side of a cartridge-head prior to.-

the release of the opposite side thereof, whereby the cartridge-head is deflected laterally of the longitudinal axis of said magazine into positive engagement said cartridge-head with the extractor-lip of said bolt as the car-- tridge is moved forwardly by said bolt for chambering in saidbarrel.

10. The combination in abox-magazine type of firearm having a receiver, a barrel secured to one end of said receiver, a bolt reciprocably mounted in said receiver and having an extractor-lip adjacent oneside of the front face of said bolt, and a stock having a box-magazine receiving-aperture therein, said stock being arranged to support said receiver and barrel assembly; of a box-magazine mounted in the aperture of said stock, said box-magazine having sidewalls bowed to provide said magazine with capacity for supporting a semi-staggered column of cartridges, the upper edges of the bowed sides of the magazine forming resilient cartridge hold-down lips to effect single-column-feed of the uppermost cartridge along the longitudinal axis of said magazine, a follower and follower-spring assembled in said magazine and arranged to urge cartridges therein up intoengagement with the said hold-down lips of said side walls, and a notch in oneof the said cartridge hold-down lips of said magazine, said notch effectively terminating the forward edge of said holddown lip rearwardly of the other lip to permit release of one side of a cartridge-head. prior to the release of the opposite side thereof, whereby the cartridge-head is deflected laterally of the longitudinal axis of said magazine into positive engagement with the extractor-lip of said bolt as the cartridge is moved forwardly by said bolt for chamberin g in said barrel.

11. The combination in a box-magazine type offirearm, having: a receiver, a barrel secured to the forward end of said receiver, a breech-bolt reciprocably mounted in said receiver and having an extractor-lip adjacent one side ofthe front face of the bolt, and a stock arranged to support said receiver and barrel assembly, said' stock having a box-magazine receiving-aperture therein; of a box-magazine mounted in the aperture of said stock, said' box-magazine having side walls provided with bends therein extending substantially longitudinally thereof for bowing the respective side walls to provide said magazine.

with capacity for supporting a semi-staggered column of cartridges, the longitudinal bends being arranged to divide the respective side walls into upper and lower portions, the upper edges of the upper portions of said side walls being arranged to constitute resilient cartridge hold'-. down lipstoeffect single-column-feed of the uppermost cartridge along the longitudinal axis of said barrel, a fol-. lower and follower-spring assembled in said magazine and arranged to urge cartridges therein up into engagement with the said hold-down lips of" said side walls, and a notch in the forward edge of one of said resilient holddown lips, said notch effectively terminating said lip at a point rearwardly of the forward edge of the opposite lip to permit release of one side of a cartridge-head prior to the release of the opposite side thereof, whereby the cartridge-head is deflected laterally of the longitudinal axis of said magazine into positive engagement with the extractor-lip of said bolt as the cartridge is moved forwardly by said bolt for chambering in said barrel.

12. The combination in a box-magazine type of firearm, having: a receiver, a barrel secured to the forward end of said receiver, a breech-bolt reciprocably mounted in said receiver and having an extractor-lip adjacent one side of the front face of the bolt, and a stock arranged to support said receiver and barrel assembly, said stock having a box-magazine receiving-aperture therein; of a box-magazine mounted in the aperture of said stock, said box-magazine having side walls provided with bends therein extending substantially longitudinally thereof for bowing the respective side walls to provide said magazine with capacity for supporting a semi-staggered column of cartridges, the longitudinal bends being arranged to divide the respective side walls into upper and lower portions, substantially vertical slots in said side walls arranged to divide each side wall into forward and rearward parts, the upper edges of the rearward parts of said side walls being arranged to constitute resilient cartridge hold-down lips to effect single-column-feed of the uppermost cartridge along the longitudinal axis of said barrel, and the upper edges of said forward parts being cut down to permit the cartridges to pass upwardly freely therebetween, a follower and follower-spring assembled in said magazine and arranged to urge cartridges therein up into engagement with the said hold-down lips of said side Walls, and a notch in the forward edge of one of said resilient hold-down lips, said notch effectively terminating said lip rearwardly of the forward edge of the opposite lip to permit release of one side of a cartridge-head prior to the release of the opposite side thereof, whereby the cartridge-head is deflected laterally of the longitudinal axis of said magazine into positive engagement with the extractor-lip of said bolt as the cartridge is moved forwardly by said bolt for chambering in said barrel.

13. The combination in a box-magazine type of firearm having a receiver, a barrel secured to one end of said receiver, a bolt reciprocably inounted in said receiver and having an extractor-lip adjacent one side of the front face of said bolt, a stock having a box-magazine receivingaperture therein, said stock being arranged to support said receiver and barrel assembly; of a box-magazine mounted in the aperture of said stock, said box-magazine having side walls provided with resilient cartridge holddown lips, and a follower and follower-spring assembled in said box-magazine arranged to urge cartridges therein up into engagement with the said hold-down lips of the said side Walls of said magazine, the resilient hold-down lip on the side of said box-magazine adjacent the extractor-lip of said breech-bolt terminating rearwardly of the forward edge of the opposite hold-down lip of said magazine so as to release one side of a cartridge-head prior to the release of the opposite side thereof whereby the cartridge-head is deflected laterally of the longitudinal axis of said magazine into positive engagement with the extractor-lip of said bolt as the cartridge is moved forwardly thereby in said receiver, the short hold-down lip of said magazine serving as a stop to prevent inadverent rearward movement of the breech-bolt and cartridge prior to chambering said cartridge in said barrel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 307,175 Burke Oct. 28, 1884 1,158,981 Carl Nov. 2, 1915 1,323,063 Johnson et al Nov. 25, 1919 1,571,592 Loomis Feb. 2, 1926 1,898,670 Landensack Feb. 21, 1933 2,377,661 Baker et a1 June 5, 1945 2,383,998 Vesely Sept. 4, 1945 2,409,568 Johnson Oct. 15, 1946 2,441,735 Warner May 18, 1948 2,471,276 Manville May 24, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 275,606 Great Britain Oct. 27, 1927 

